Slightly Changes.

What if Gwen, feeling herself irresistibly drawn by Lancelot had decided to leave Camelot, leave Arthur before cheating on him ? How does the King would have react ? Would have he let the love of his life go away from him ? Would the Morgana's evil plan operates in this case ? The true love that share Arthur and Guinevere, could it survive to a true break up ? Would have it been the good answer ? In this version, set during 4x09, after Arthur's proposing, Lancelot come back and the enchanted gift this late gave to Gwen. This one decided to leave all that matter for her, including the man she loves more than anything, because of feelings she thought dead forever ...

Hey my friends :) So, chapter 12, I can't believe I write actually 12 chapters and that people read it ! I think we aproach the end of this story, which make me sad but ... 2/3 chapter and an epilogue I think... I'm not quite sure yet... Anyway, I wanted to thank all of the people who read, follows and reviews ! For this chapter, Cowboy's Lover Dimitri No 1, larasmith and RavenBaller-23 thanks for always being here with such amazing review :) And thanks to megan too, who always review too and I wanted to tell you Megan, ' Ahah I'm sorry ! I swear, I'm not a cruel person ;)'

XII.

Arthur stared at her with wide eyes and she walked away, shaking,

"You... you just saved my life..."

He slowly got up and walked toward her,

"I..." she couldn't speak, "I..."

At this moment, Arthur took her by the hands and pulled her in his arms, squeezing her tight. And then, it happened something in Morgana and she let her armour down, and cried. Cried of tiredness, cried of relief. Because she could feel it against her brother's warm body, she wasn't alone anymore, she wasn't in charge anymore. For the first time in years, she felt protected.

"Everything's okay Morgana,but we have to go now, before she wakes up..."

He took her hand and pulled her out of the ceil.

Gwen recovered the ground and Merlin noticed she was quite pale,

"Is everything allright Gwen ?"

"I... I don't feel well..."

Freaked out, Merlin turned around toward his friend,

"What is happening to her ?"

And then, the Dragon laughs, that same insane laugh he had had when Merlin had told him Uther had married a troll.

"Kilgarrah !"

"I'm sorry young warlock, your friend will get better, she just has what we could call... the dragon's sickness."

A slight smile then lighted up Merlin's face, comforts. He walked toward Gwen and lent her a hand,

"Do you want me to help you get better ?"

She frowned and he clearly saw her hesitate before she laid her hand on his,

"Come on Merlin, show me."

He smiled gently and she saw his eyes becoming gold before her malaise disapeared, a cry of surprise escaped her and Merlin squeezed her hand, before let it go,

"See Gwen, magic isn't evil. Heart's men can be ..."

She nodded seriously and he looked down then,

"You must promise not tell a word to Arthur."

"But..."

"No Gwen, I will tell him, I swear it to you, but he is not ready."

She stared at him then,

"I think he is more ready than what you give him credit for Merlin. He has nothing of the young arrogant prat he once was, he is a King, with the most pure heart and the most noble soul I have ever seen. He is well more than ready ..."

Merlin smiled, hearing her describe the man she loved and he finally turned toward the Dragon,

"Thank you Kilgarrah."

"Before you came in, young warlock; Remember that in those walls, nothing is what it seems."

"What do you mean ?"

"You know Merlin, we give a great importance in names we give to things, but not here."

"I don't understand..."

"Then think about it. It's the only way to save your King and ..."

"There is someone with Arthur ?" asked Gwen right away,

The Dragon nodded and started fly away,

"Someone you surely not expected to see amongst you again... But be warned, young friends, in that the future will depend only on the way you welcome it."

And he left, leaving Gwen and Merlin, puzzled.

"Is he always like that ?" asked Gwen,

"Dragon's thing I suppose." sighed Merlin, "Come on. Let's go."

Arthur and Morgana were walking in the castle, but didn't meet anyone.

"Are you already came here ?" asked the King,

"No, no it's the first time..."

"I feel like ..." whispered the King before stop, "Morgana we are already came here ! We are turning in circle."

The witch frowned and passes by him,

"What happen to you ?" he then asked,

"I... I feel magic in here ..."

"Which means ?

She turned around to her brother and their eyes met,

"Arthur, I think the castle is enchanted. Morgaine knew we'd attempt an escape...

She let out a small cry of terror and this time, he didn't find the courage of comforting her, for if she was right, then, they were lost...

Merlin kept on walking when suddenly, something bothered him in his pocket. He sighed and put in hand, trying to take it but receded it right away, burnt. He frowned, and under Gwen's surprised stare, removed his scarf and took the bracelet he had found, earlier, in her house...

"Gwen ?"

"What is this Merlin ?"

"I found it on the ground yesterday, in your house. Do you recognize it ? I thought it could be Morgaine's but..."

She walked closer and he saw her becoming white.

"Gwen ?"

"I ... It's ... Lancelot ..."

"Sorry ?"

She looked down,

"It's the wedding gift given by Lancelot."

This time, Merlin stopped.

"Merlin ?"

"Gwen, this bracelet is ... it is clearly enchanted."

She stopped at her turn.

"What ..."

"He burn me when I touch it... Tell me, what did you felt for Lancelot when he came back ? "

"Relief first, then fear Arthur would be uncomfortable, I was happy he was alive."

Merlin frowned,

"And after ?"

"Oh Merlin it doesn't make any sense ! Why would he do that ?"

He walked closer and took her hands,

"Listen to me Gwen, this is not Lancelot..."

"But ..."

"No. Listen. The Lancelot we knew never came back from the dead. Morgana brought him back to life but he is nothing but a shade.

Gwen was looking as if she was going to pass out.

"You are not serious, are you ?"

"And this," he said, raising the bracelet, "is covered by some magic words, without talking about that burn on you wrist, Gwen, it all sweat the magic !"

She closed her eyes and he saw her inhale, exhale. Before said again,

"It's confused in my memory after," she finished by say, "As if I couldn't stop think about him, wanting to be with him and I remember ..." she stopped a few seconds and frowned, as if she was trying to remember, before suddenly opening her eyes, "I remember my heart told me I only wanted Arthur with all my strenght, but something prevented me ..."

The two friends stopped and Gwen laid a hand on her mouth, chocking a sob.

"Oh my god Merlin..."

"I think," answered his friend, "That this could be the reason..."

"But... But then I ... I never ..."

"No Gwen," smiled Merlin, "No you never. Even enchanted, you didn't cheat on Arthur. Your heart is as far the purest of all of them..."

A sob took her. Relief. Joy. She had to tell Arthur ... Comforting him, taking away that shadow he always had in his eyes... She didn't cheating on him ! She was worthy of his trust ! A laugh escaped her and Merlin said again,

"All is okay ?"

"Better. All is better. We have to hurry up, I have to tell Arthur..."

On their sides, Arthur and Morgana was keeping on walking, when they heard noise. Pulling Morgana by the arm, Arthur hid themselves in a corner of the wall and he showed her to be quiet. His mind was playing him tricks because he thought he had smelt Guinevere's smell, her spring and lavender smell... He shook his head, trying to regain himself. Gwen was safe in Camelot, thank you for her. Once the noise away, they got out and Arthur whispered,

"We're not alone ..."

"How can we get out of here ?"

"Don't worry Morgana, I will find a way..."

"I should as well prepare myself to death then !"

He turned around, ready to retort, but saw the teasing smile on her lips.

"Shut up Morgana." he answered then, smiling and he heard her laugh. It was so good to be with Morgana again. To find the person he had grown up with again. To find her again. His thoughts went again toward the woman he tenderly loved... Guinevere. He hoped that she was okay, that she was safe and mainly, that she wasn't letting herself waste away. He then thought about what Morgana had told. She had enchanted Gwen, which means ... Guinevere never cheated on him ! She had never loved anyone else but him and even left in order not to hurt him... Could he one day thank her enough ? He saw now just how much she was ready to sacrifice for him to be happy. Just as much as he for her ...He shook his head again, he didn't deserved her.

"Are you fighting with some imaginary flies ?" Morgana's question pulled him out of his thoughts,

"Why are you asking me that ?"

"You don't stop shaking your head in all ways ! "

Merlin and Gwen just entered the Castle and already, Gwen had hallucinations, she had thought she had smelt Arthur's smell, his pine and such himself smell, she couldn't explain ... She shook her head and they resumed walking.

"Kilgharrah has said that nothing were what it seems..."

"And that names of things didn't matter in here ..."

Suddenly, they both stopped, hearing a noise behind them. Took by a weird feeling and despite Merlin's hopeless calls, Gwen walked forward, and forward, and ...

Arthur and Morgana were still walking when this one stumbled on something on the floor. Arthur turned around, with wide eyes,

"Sorry." she said, right away.

"For God's sake Morgana, can't you just watch where you walk ? "

She was ready to retort something but some footsteps could be heard, making them jumped. Arthur took the young woman by the arm and they went behind the door.

Gwen walked forward again and suddenly, she felt her arm grabbed and screamed, before she recognizes the sea blue eyes in front of her.

"Oh my God, Arthur !" she breathed, throwing herself in his arms.

Arthur didn't quite understood what was happening but in two seconds, he was holding Guinevere against him, as if he was never going to let her go. When they pulled away, he saw the tears in her eyes and she laid a sweet hand on his cheeks,

"Oh my love ..." she whispered before get closer and kiss him tenderly.

Someone cleared his throat, making them jumped and Merlin was standing there, in front of them. A smile lighted up the King's face and without letting go of the woman in his arms, he patted the shoulder of his dearest friend.

"Merlin !"

"Glad to see you're still alive Dollop Head,"

"I wont be, if I wouldn't had been saved."

Gwen's eyes widened from terror when she recognized the silhouette at Arthur's side.

"Morgana ..." she breathed.

The young woman looked like she had wanted the ground to open up and eat her. She threw terrified look toward Merlin and Gwen, well, more toward Merlin, and supplicants look toward Arthur.

"Let me explain." then said the King,

Morgaine let out a scream of pain and laid a hand on her skull, and she felt he hair all sticky at the place where blood had been. She closed her eyes, too weak to move for now and noticed those two idiots had not tied her... She tried to get up and failed, she had to admit, she didn't expected what had happening, she didn't thought that Arthur could reach Morgana... She grunted and closed her eyes again, she was so tired...

"But I'm tired Morgause, I don't want to play this game anymore." moaned the little girl, crossing her arms, her big sister then came in front of her,and took both her little hands in hers,

"Do you really think that, when the day will come, your enemies will let you rest ? No dear sister, they will throw themselves on you like hungry wolves and will try to rip your heart out !"

The small girl had wide scared eyes and the first born took her then in her arms,

"Don't worry, I will protect you. But for that, you'll have to do something for me."

"What ?"

"Let's play this game once more. I'm almost there..."

Morgaine's eyes opened in one shot, alert and sharp.

"Morgana and I were stuck in the same cell,"

"It doesn't explain what she is doing here." said Merlin coldly and Morgana glared at him while the King said in an exasperated voice,

"Can I talk Merlin ?" the sorcerer nodded, "I thank you. I was telling," and he threw a look at Merlin, clearly telling that if he spoke again, he wouldn't mind throw him by the window. "Morgaine came with her dagger and walked toward me and from her look, I could tell it was my time .." he felt Guinevere squeeze her arms around him and her face buried in his neck, while his encircled her. "Morgana freed herself and while she could have run away, she knocked Morgaine. She saved my life. She deserves a second chance. Everyone does."

He turned around to Morgana and saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, he slightly bowed his head toward her and she gave him a teary smile. Gwen then slowly freed herself from Arthur's embrace, not without having giving him a slight kiss on the neck first, he plunged his full love eyes in hers and she smiled, before turned around to Morgana and walked closer,

"You saved him ? Why ?"

Morgana swallowed and looked down a few seconds,

"I have done so many wrong choices Gwen, I know now... And ... " a sob took her, "If only you knew, if only all of you knew just how much I regret everything that I've done ! When, when Arthur offered me this second chance," she closed her eyes a few seconds then, "I understood just how much I could have been wrong ... I took this chance. I took it and I'm not gonna drop it, even if I know it will be hard and that you all hate me and that you could never forgi..."

But she couldn't end her sentence. Gwen had walked forward and took her in her arms. Morgana let out a suprise scream and answered her hug, letting the tears rolling down her cheek before Gwen whispers,

"Oh my God Morgana, I didn't dare dream the day you would come back to us, the day where I would see the woman I considered as a sister, come back to us..."

The two young woman hugged for a little while before letting go of each other. There was a familiar atmosphere, the same as this one, when Gwen had been kidnapped by Hengist and Arthur brought her back.

"Ladies," Arthur's voice cut her, "I'm afraid we'd have to go."

Gwen smiled one last time at Morgana before left toward Arthur, she took his hand and squeezed it hard, while he put an arm around her shoulder , tenderly, before laid a kiss in her curls.

"Thank you." he breathed and she smiled,

"You trust her Arthur, and as I trust you, then I trust her too."

He laughed and brought her closer to him. On her side, Morgana walked, trying to avoid Merlin's stare. This one didn't know how to react. He couldn't just trust her. Suddenly, a sentence came back on his mind, 'Someone you surely not expected to see amongst you again... But be warned, young friends, in that the future will depend only on the way you welcome it.' He had already gave up on Morgana once and she threw herself at Morgause. He never forgave himself for that. And now, he had his chance to fix his mistakes once for all. He then stopped Morgana by the arm and she stared at him with that piece of fear in her eyes, he then lent her a hand and tried to smile, while her expression was now one of total surprise,

"I'm glad you're back amongst us Morgana." he breathed and she stared at him, trying to know if he meant it, before finally shook his hand, the hint of a smile on her lips.

"Thank you Merlin."

The four young adults resumed their walk, but seemed to sink deeper in the Castle.

"I don't understand ..." muttered Arthur,

"Things are not what they seems..." muttered Merlin and Morgana stared at him, puzzled. "Let's go this way !" he said, cutting all questions, and he headed the lead of the expedition, ignoring Arthur's anger stare, who muttered something about the fact he was the King ...

"I thought I lost you."

The sweet voice of Guinevere pulled him out of his thoughts and he stared down at her, she looked up, through her long lashes, before look down again.

"You will never lost me Guinevere. I swear it to you."

"You can't swear me that..." he heard her voice break and felt his heart stop. He then checked that Merlin and Morgana were always walking in front of them, before stopped, grabbing Guinevere by the same time. She still didn't looked at him,

"I will always be with you my love, no matter what happen," he took her hand and squeezed it before laying it on her heart, "there."

She looked up at him and he saw what he feared, tears. She pressed herself against him then, for a few seconds before pulling away and wipe her tears.

"I couldn't bear it if ... if anything was to happening to you."

They resumed walking and Arthur didn't answered right away.

"I'll do what has to be done to protect you. But ... you have to promise, if anything happen to me, I want you to move on Guinevere."

"I couldn't."

She was shaking desperately her head and again, he stopped and cupped her face in his hand, his thumbs stroking her cheeks tenderly. The tears was rolling down her face now,

"Listen to me Love, you must promise me. You must."

"Would you... would you move on if it was happening to me ?"

"You know that I don't ..." he breathed, closing his eyes, the only idea of losing Guinevere in a permanent way, too much for him to bear.

"Then don't ask me to do it."

He opened his eyes and stared at her a few seconds, before sighed and kiss her slowly. They resumed their walking, one against the other, ready to face whatever will happening.

Morgaine was walking with difficulty in the corridors. They couldn't be gone. This castle was a labyrinth. She will find them and she will kill them. She will accomplish her revenge... Morgaine felt anger spread into her, she will start by Morgana. She had put her patience at stake for way too much time...

Arthur, Gwen, Merlin and Morgana walked through a door and find themselves in a huge room.

"Where are we ?" asked Gwen,

"It's a ritual room," answered gently Morgana, "No matter the size of magic out there, it can't reach this room for it is magic itself.""

Arthur seemed to think,

"Which means ?"

"We could stay here and think of a plan ?" started Merlin,

"We don't have time." said Morgana, "Morgaine can arrive at any moments ! "

"But I thought you neutralized her ?"

"Knock would be the word."

"And why haven't you tied her ?"

"Merlin !" screamed Arthur, "She just tried to kill us, we didn't think that this damn castle were enchanted ! We thought we would be out in less time that it need to be said... "

"How wrong you were."

They all turned around toward the voice who just spoke and with a protective gesture, Arthur put Gwen behind him and took his sword. Morgana and Merlin walked forward too.

"So, all of you are here then ?"

"You lost Morgaine..." breathed Merlin,

"Oh no Emrys, it's where you're wrong about."

She walked forward again and her eyes became gold, before four dagger happens to them over but they dropped as quickly and Arthur raised his eyes to Morgana, the hand raised. It was the second time she saved his life today ...

"Oh, the great Morgana Pendragon, so, you joined their side then ? Very interesting ..." she started to walk around them, "Do you really think they will forgive you ? "four others dagger came but Morgana stopped them right away.

"I don't expect someone like you to understand a thing about redemption." hissed Arthur and Morgana held back a smile.

"And what about Morgause ?" asked Morgaine and Morgana paled, " What would she tell ?"

"Morgause was a heartless demon" hissed again Arthur but Morgana had paled and another four daggers were coming ...

...

...

"MERLIN!" screamed Arthur, opening wide eyes, walking away from his friend, the hand raised, the daggers on the ground. "What ... what..."

Morgana looked down, Gwen too, a few seconds, before Morgaine said,

"So you didn't know ? Your great friend, a sorcerer."

"It ... It can't be, Merlin tell her that this is not possible."

But Merlin didn't answered, he saw the tears in his best friend's eyes and could not hold his.

"I'm so sorry Arthur..."

"No."

"I wanted to tell you..."

"No."

"I only used it in order to protect you ..."

Arthur stared at him, the anger spread into his body, when he heard Guinevere's voice whisper in his ear,

"I beg you Arthur, remember."

He turned around toward her and saw Morgana watch him with interest, while Morgaine seemed to enjoy it a lot.

"Remember," she said again, "All those incurables wounds whose you survived, remember all those branches falling on opponents, remember all those times you came to me, saying you felt like someone was protecting you..."

"Merlin ?" asked the King and Gwen sketched a smile, stroking his forearm,

"Yes Arthur, Merlin. He is not just a servant, nor a incredible and loyal friend, but he protected you Arthur. He protected all of us..."

Morgana paled. Almost all. And then, suddenly, all went clear. Merlin's priority had always been Arthur's safety. And what if ... What if that day, he had poisonned her in order to save him... But why her ? Why ? She saw Arthur calm down, his face went to pure gratitude. He walked closer to Merlin and the young sorcerer didn't moved. Arthur looked one last time toward Guinevere, then his friend, and she saw his chest rise at a high rate before he, in a quick gesture, took her in his arms briefly, patting his back. Arthur then receded and wiped his tears, while Merlin's eyes widened.

"My old friend... All those times I had been saved, all those times you saved me... I see it now, all that you have done, for me, for Camelot...

Merlin's cheek were filled by tears as the men were standing face to face.

"I wanted to say, something I never say to you before... thank you."

Some applause were heard behind them, and they all jumped. In the shock of the revelation, they had forgotten the danger in which they was ...

"I'm bored." said suddenly Morgaine, "And when I'm bored..."

Her eyes became gold and a golden dagger was sent toward Morgana but the young woman, upset by what she thought she had found out about that day when Merlin poisonned her and all changed in her mind, didn't see anything ... Then, all happen quickly. She vaguely heard Arthur screamed her name, then she felt dragging back and this time, she heard Guinevere screamed... When she turned around, she felt freeze in the bottom of herself.

"No..." she whispered, "no... no no no no no no..."

"ARTHUR !" screamed Guinevere, throwing herself at his side.

On his side, Merlin stared at his friend. His friend who just accept him, a sword in the stomach, the head on his fiancée's knees, he saw Morgana throw herself at his side too, with horrified eyes and he saw Morgaine, laughing. And then ... then he felt something. something foreign, which came from the bottom of himself... Something strong. Something powerful. Something... magical.

So ? I really had a bad day and I hope you will like this chapter... A lot happens again, Arthur and Gwen ? Merlin and Morgana ? Morgana and Gwen ? Arthur and Morgana ? Morgaine ? What did you think of Merlin reveal ? I hope you weren't disapointed, in my head, Gwen was here to remind Arthur of all Merlin had done to him so he doesn't waste his time in foolish anger ... Gwen learn that she had been enchanted ?

Oh, I guess you hate me for what I did, isn't it ? I hope not ;) What do you think will happen ?

I really hope, you had a great time, and a better day that I had !

Keep Safe :)